Site announced

The planned recovery residence has a home. 

Its location will be donated by the hospital.

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition and IU Health Jay announced a partnership Wednesday for the new sober living facility, which is planned for the house at 422 W. Votaw St., Portland. IU Health Jay has agreed to donate the property to Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition for the project.

“This partnership exemplifies the positive outcomes that can be achieved when organizations come together to support our community’s well-being,” said Kimbra Reynolds, executive director at Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition, in a press release. “(It) underscores the commitment of all organizations involved to address the opioid epidemic and promote health equity and wellness in Jay County.”

Jay County Opioid Settlement Taskforce preliminarily selected a Redkey house as a potential spot for a sober living facility in December. Jay County Commissioners at that time approved a $35,000 request from National Opioid Settlement dollars to conduct a feasibility study on the home and put down earnest money. They later rescinded that decision in response to backlash from Redkey residents, who cited a lack of amenities and resources as well as safety concerns regarding the facility.

The task force pulled its offer on the Redkey house and had been looking for a different location since then.

Reynolds explained Wednesday that the property along Votaw Street had been a spot the task force considered previously. After the task force stepped away from the Redkey house, they reconsidered the Portland location. One phone call and one meeting later, the wheels started turning.

“There is a great need for this service in our community, and the location is ideal,” said IU Health Jay chief operating officer and chief nursing officer Christina Schemenaur in a press release. “Residents will have easy access to local healthcare services along with community services. This will benefit not only Portland but surrounding communities.”

Reynolds pointed out the location’s proximity to the hospital, as well as Meridian Health Services, Haynes Park, Walmart and employment opportunities. She also noted the new walking path along Votaw Street.

“All the development that the city and county have been doing, it falls in line with everything else to help bring good services to people,” she said.

Plans call for a facility designated for males in recovery, serving between 15 and 17 residents in a roughly 5,000-square-foot space. That includes one house manager who is in long-term recovery and oversees the facility at all times.

Currently, the house sits at approximately 3,728 square feet. Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition plans to renovate the house, including adding on more square footage, reconfiguring bedrooms and communal living spaces, updating safety features, improving accessibility and ensuring compliance with state guidelines. 

Bruns Consulting has started preliminary work on a feasibility study on the property.

Hopes are for the recovery home to be operational within a year and a half.

The sober living facility’s intake policy once opened will include an extensive application and interview process, drug screening — each new resident must be sober and have already gone through a detox — and a trial period.

New residents will have their rent supplemented by Recovery Works dollars through Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Once employed, residents must pay weekly rent. They’ll also be expected to follow the facility’s rules and complete chores.

Backlash from local residents in December led Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition to seek more community input in the process, as it hosted community forums Jan. 24 and April 18 as well as a conversation with teenagers regarding addiction and recovery on April 16.

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition launched a naming contest April 29 for the new facility. It announced Wednesday the “Name It to Claim It” deadline has been extended to May 24. 

Residents of Jay, Blackford, Delaware and Adams counties are encouraged to submit entries to name the house at bit.ly/3URgMEp. Its winner will receive $250 and determine the recovery residence’s name.

“I really think that the community pulling together on this project has been key,” said Reynolds, noting three local residents have joined the task force since its initial community forum.

Reynolds shared hopes to offer sponsorship opportunities for community members who would like to donate toward the cause, such as giving naming rights to a room or outdoor seating. Details for that part of the project are still in the works.

She noted that Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition is available for those who have questions or concerns about the project.

“We’re not a closed door,” she said. “We want people to ask questions. If people have fears, come talk to us.”